Liverpool Plot Cut-Price Coup as Sildillia Emerges as Prime Successor to Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool’s ongoing transition under Arne Slot appears set to intensify this summer, with sources confirming FSG and their new sporting director Richard Hughes have accelerated efforts to sign SC Freiburg star Kiliann Sildillia. The 22-year-old Frenchman is increasingly seen as an astute, budget-friendly remedy to Liverpool’s looming Trent Alexander-Arnold conundrum — a void so significant it threatens to reshape the entire right flank of the Reds.

The significance of this pursuit cannot be overstated. Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool’s generational right-back and creative lynchpin, is nearing a free transfer switch to Real Madrid, ending a chapter defined by his dazzling passes and tactical innovation. Replacing such a unique talent is virtually impossible — so instead, Liverpool are seemingly opting for a multi-pronged approach blending internal promotion, tactical recalibration, and savvy recruitment.

Leading that new wave internally is 21-year-old Conor Bradley, the combative Northern Irishman already tipped to inherit a starting berth. Yet even Slot admits a need for added specialist depth rather than makeshift options like Joe Gomez or midfielders filling in uncomfortably at right-back. This is precisely where Sildillia’s profile is so alluring.

Sildillia, approaching the final year of his contract and valued around £12 million, is not a glamorous household name. But he has quietly impressed as a defensive powerhouse across the Bundesliga and Europe’s elite leagues. Data from FBref highlights he ranks among the top 1% of full-backs for aerial duels won (2.4 per game), top 6% in tackles and blocks, and boasts tactical versatility to operate as a centre-back or even right winger. His aggressive style, as Freiburg boss Julian Schuster noted, makes him ‘a great defender’ and a potentially low-risk, high-upside signing.

Compared to Alexander-Arnold’s creative wizardry and deep-lying playmaking, Sildillia offers solidity, height, and consistent one-on-one defending. This aligns neatly with Slot’s subtly evolved demands at right-back: more positional discipline, more off-ball running and structural support, and less onus on dictating possession — tasks Bradley is also well suited for. It signals a tactical refresh after Klopp’s more fluid, hybrid approach where Alexander-Arnold would often invert centrally or launch attacks from deep.

Of course, Liverpool’s search spans beyond Sildillia. Bayer Leverkusen’s dynamic Jeremie Frimpong — with a staggering 14 goals and 10 assists last season — presents a bolder, ultra-attacking option but would require significant tactical adjustments. Tottenham’s Pedro Porro, similar in creativity to Trent, or Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, an all-action defender, also feature on the shortlist, though the former’s valuation and latter’s premium price complicate matters. Young Porto duo Joao Mario and Martim Fernandes, especially the explosive 19-year-old Fernandes leading Europe for ‘big chances’ created per 90 by defenders, offer developmental prospects.

However, none seem to combine immediate readiness, affordability, and defensive steel quite like Sildillia. His pending contract expiry and Freiburg’s acceptance of a low fee — especially after fending off Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille last window — turn this into a potentially shrewd market gem for FSG amid heightened competition. And his top-level experience, including helping France secure silver at the Olympics, sweetens the package.

While Liverpool fans understandably lament the imminent departure of a true Anfield icon, these moves hint that instead of ‘replacing’ Alexander-Arnold’s irreplaceable qualities, the Reds will reshape their right flank to be more robust and pragmatic, layered with contrasting styles in Bradley and Sildillia — plus possibly a dynamic add-on like Frimpong if funds allow. Combining youth, athleticism, and defensive bite, this could forge a more balanced back line while freeing Salah and others from compensating defensively.

FSG’s strategy appears focused on maximum value extraction — sourcing versatile, physically gifted talents at sensible prices, in stark contrast to recent years’ big-money signings. If executed smoothly, the quiet pursuit of Sildillia might serve as the cornerstone of Liverpool’s next defensive era, one not built on a single superstar but on collective adaptability and steel.

Will this gamble pay off in sustaining Liverpool’s ambitions in the post-Trent era? How fans and pundits react will hinge on how quickly these fresh faces gel inside Slot’s evolving blueprint. One thing is certain – change is coming fast to Merseyside. And perhaps, with clever scouting and coaching, this change could herald a new cycle of success rather than decline.

What do you think about Liverpool’s succession plan for the iconic Trent Alexander-Arnold? Is Sildillia a hidden gem or should the Reds push for a headline name? Share your views and join the debate below.

• Freiburg
• Kiliann Sildillia
• Trent Alexander-Arnold

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